Multi-Access Gateway for Direct to Residence Communication Services

ABSTRACT

Different residences can be communicatively linked to a communication backbone via a multi-access gateway, where each residence comprises an adapter through which a set of IP devices directly connect to the multi-access gateway via IPSec compliant communication channels. The multi-access gateway can connect each of the IP devices to remotely located resources. Telecommunication services can be provided to the IP devices in the residences for fees. The multi-access gateway can controls specifics of the telecommunication services, which can include emergency (e.g., 911) services, home control services, and residential administration services. Any of the telecommunication services can be initiated, modified, or terminated by a carrier maintaining the multi-access gateway on a per residence basis for any of the different residences.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to the field of residential telecommunicationservices and, more particularly, to a multi-access gateway for direct toresidence communication services.

Residential communication services are generally provided in accordancewith an end point architecture. In this architecture, for each service,a “last mile” line is established between the carrier and the residencein question. Different types of services can require different lines.This has historically the case with different types of broadcastingmedia (e.g., television, wireline voice telephony, wireless voicetelephony, Internet services, etc.), where each type of media wasprovided by different providers. Each different type media has even beenregulated by different agencies and governing laws. Telecommunicationconvergence has lowered many of these barriers, and now multipledifferent media services can be provided by a common provider over asingle external line (wired or wireless). In an end-point architecture,a provider is responsible for connectivity issues to a residence, andintra-residence communications have been the responsibility of a homeowner.

For example, broadband internet connections require a user to purchase,deploy, and maintain a home based gateway, such as a router. Eachin-residence IP device then uses the home router as a gateway. Thegateway is connected to a modem, which is linked to the provider'sgateway. This arrangement often results in home users having difficultysetting up their household devices. This difficulty continues toincrease, as a number of intra-home devices linked to a gatewayincreases.

Thus, as IP devices in the home continue to proliferate, architecturesdependent upon home routers (e.g., end point architectures) are expectedto increasingly experience problems. For example, many residences thatreceive voice over internet protocol (VOIP) based services experiencedegradation of service quality due to use of routers, which may fail toprovide preferential treatment to voice communications. Video-on-demandand streaming services similarly suffer from improper routerconfigurations and/or from home routers lacking necessary features toprovide adequate performance for these services. Problems occurringwithin the home network (downstream from a home router) often lead tohome user dissatisfaction and frustration, with their service provider(i.e., internet or VOIP carrier). Further, service providers incursignificant costs to provide technological support, which includessending agents to homes, for resolving issue beyond their control (i.e.,presently providers are largely not responsible for home routers and/orin-home architectures, networking devices, etc.).

One contributing factor of in-residence telecommunication problems isdue to providers biasing communication lines for downstreaming (e.g.,receiving content from the provider's network) verses upstreaming(sending content from the residence to the provider). The availablebandwidth for upstreaming is typically a fraction of that fordownstreaming. In residence devices and emerging services that requiresignificant upstream bandwidth (e.g., VOIP devices, in-home mediaservers like SLINGBOX and WINDOWS HOME SERVER (WHS) devices, securitycameras, etc.) can strangle the available upstream bandwidth. Cloudcomputing services, online backup solutions, and other emergingtechnologies also consume significant upstream bandwidth. Problems withthese devices or services, again lead to decreased user satisfactionwith their service provider/carrier, even through often there is littlea service provider can do.

Further complications and residence experienced problems result from useof third party services. That is, residences are increasing subscribingto third party services for telecommunications, which requirecommunications with in-residence devices. These services can beimplemented in an extremely inefficient manner and/or can consume aninordinate amount of available bandwidth in a non-cooperative way, whichresults in an end-user experiencing problems. These problems are oftennot attributed to their proper source (especially when experienced bynon-technical users), which results in trouble calls to atelecommunication service provider and/or customer dissatisfaction withthe service provider/carrier.

The above problems are often not ones resulting from inherent capacityor performance limitations of a line from a residence to the serviceprovider (the last mile of communications). These problems often resultfrom the home router acting as a bottleneck to the external line and/orby communication conflicts (including prioritization conflicts)occurring among intra-residence devices. Problems of this nature arecontrolled by intra-home equipment, such as home based gateways.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The disclosure can be implemented in accordance with a variety ofaspects and configurations. For instance, one aspect of the disclosureis for providing a method, computer program, system, and artifact forproviding telecommunication services. In the aspect, differentresidences can be communicatively linked to a communication backbone viaa multi-access gateway. Each residence can include an adapter throughwhich a set of one or more IP devices directly connect to themulti-access gateway via IPSec compliant communication channels. Themulti-access gateway can perform TCP/IP network level routing for the IPdevices. The highest TCP/IP level communication performed by the adapteris at the link level of the TCP/IP stack. The multi-access gateway canconnect each of the IP devices to remotely located resources, whichcomprise remotely located IP resources, which communicate to the IPdevices via IP addresses maintained by the multi-access gateway.Telecommunication services can be provided to the IP devices in theresidences for fees. The multi-access gateway can control specifics ofthe telecommunication services. The telecommunication services caninclude emergency (e.g., 911) services for the IP devices, home controlservices, and residential administration services. Any of thetelecommunication services can be initiated, modified, or terminated bya carrier, which maintains the multi-access gateway, on a per residencebasis for any of the different residences.

One aspect of the disclosure is for providing a method, computerprogram, system, and artifact for providing residentialtelecommunication services. Different internet protocol (IP) deviceswithin hundreds of different residences can be connected to amulti-access gateway through a plurality of in-residence adaptors. Eachof the in-residence adaptors can correspond in a one-to-one fashion toeach of the hundreds of different residences. Each adaptor can becustomer premise equipment (CPE) lacking routing capabilities. Theadaptor can be positioned inside the residence or outside the residence(e.g., in a locked box only accessible by a service provider and not bythe residents). Each of the adaptors can be communicatively linked to aremotely located multi-access gateway. The multi-access gateway can bepart of the middle-mile of a communication network. The multi-accessgateway can provide routing directly to IP addresses of each of the IPdevices without any intermediate gateways. TCP/IP based communicationscan be conducted between each of the IP devices and the multi-accessgateway. The communications can occur through the adapters at the linklevel of the TCP/IP stack, where the conducted TCP/IP basedcommunications through the adaptor do not occur above the link layer ofthe TCP/IP stack. A carrier controlling the multi-access gateway canprovide telecommunication services to residential subscribers of theresidences for fees. Customizable residence specific settings can bestored for each of the residences in a data store accessible bycomputing equipment able to control residence specific behavior of themulti-access gateway. The customizable residence specific settings candetermine details of the telecommunication services as provided tospecific ones of the residences. A user interface accessible byclient-side browsers can be provided. The user interface can permitauthorized users to modify at least a portion of the customizableresidence specific settings for the one of the residences in which theauthorized user resides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a telecommunications system using a multi-accessgateway for residential communication services in accordance with adisclosure.

FIG. 2 provides additional views and diagrams for embodiments of thetelecommunications system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating emergency (e.g., 911) services providedin accordance with an embodiment the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating home control services provided inaccordance with an embodiment the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure eliminates a need for home based gateways byestablishing a multi-access gateway at a carrier's location. That is,the multi-access gateway is not positioned within the last mile, but caninstead be positioned at the edge of the middle-mile, in a communicationnetwork. This multi-access gateway can perform routing functions fortens or hundreds of thousands of in-residence devices. Within aresidence, a single, non-routing adaptor (e.g., a modem) can beinstalled, which links the in-home devices to the multi-access gateway.Converters, which include a network transponder able to connect to theadapter, can be optionally used to enable non-IP devices (e.g., POTSphones) lacking an internal network transponder to function.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, each in-residence device can beassigned a unique IP address (an IPv6 address, for example), which themulti-access gateway uses when routing communications. Communicationsbetween each in-residence device and the multi-access gateway can besecure communications, such as conforming to the IPSec standard. Anumber of services, such as emergency (e.g., 911) services, home controlservices, residential administration services, and the like can beimplemented at the multi-access gateway for the residences. Use of themulti-access gateway is more cost efficient compared to the aggregatecosts of providing in-residence home gateways. Additionally, a serviceprovider/carrier is granted increased control of communications all theway to the end-user device, which permits intelligent and controlled useof available bandwidth of physical communication pathways (whichincludes wirelines and wireless spectrum).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations foraspects of the present invention may be written in any combination ofone or more programming languages, including an object orientedprogramming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Referring now to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a diagram of a telecommunicationssystem 100 using a multi-access gateway 130 for residentialcommunication services 132 in accordance with a disclosure. System 100represents an application of telecommunication technologies that utilizenetwork-based gateway architecture, as opposed to an end-pointarchitecture that is commonly today. In system 100, functionalitytypically implemented within home based gateways, such as customerpremise equipment (CPE) routers, can be replaced by functionality (e.g.,routing 162 functionality) of the multi-access gateway 130.

Thus, the gateway 130 can communicate with a variety of in-residence(110) network devices 120-126 through adaptor 129 using an internetprotocol (IP) addresses 154. In one embodiment, the IP address 154 canbe a public, static address, such as an IPv6 address. In anotherembodiment, the IP address 154 can be a dynamic private address assignedby gateway 130 as needed. IP address 154 can also be a partial IPaddress 154 in one embodiment, which is assigned and able to be uniquelyidentified by gateway 130, which performs routing functions in system100. Regardless of the type of address 154 used, the arrangements shownin system 100 can result in a substantial reduction of overall costs, ashome based gateways (e.g., CPE routers) are in aggregate more expensiveto procure, setup, and maintain than the gateway 130—yet gateway 130 isable to provide equivalent to superior functionality compared to theaggregated home-based gateways. Further, gateway 130 permits a carrier112 to exert more fine-grained control over residential services 132,which can result in residential (110) customers being able to receive agreater variety of services 132 at lower costs due to economies ofscale. Further, service providers can be provided opportunities atlarger markets and carriers 112 can be granted new avenues to leveragetheir assets.

To elaborate, in system 100, IP devices 120-124 in a residence 110 canbe connected through an adaptor 129 to a carrier's 112 multi-accessgateway 130. Each IP device 120-124 (shown also as device 150) caninclude a network interface card (NIC) 152 with a unique Media AccessControl (MAC) address 153. Further, each device 150 can be assigned anIP address 154 (static or dynamic; public or private, depending onimplementation choices) as well as an optional hardware deviceidentifier 155. In one embodiment, the IP address 154 can be an IPv6address, which permits substantially greater unique addresses thanprevious standards. In one embodiment, the hardware device identifier155 can be used for hardware-mating services, so that services lackingthe identifier 155, even if they are assigned the correct IP address 154will not be able to communicate with media access gateway 130. Thisoptional, additional level of security permits tight control of certainones of the services 132, which may be a requirement of a serviceprovider (such as television, on-demand, and/or pay-per-view providers,which often are contractually bound to only provide media over highlysecure channels, which may require hardware-mating, and/or hardwarebased security schemes.).

Additionally, one or more non-IP devices 126 can connect to adaptor 129through a converter 127, where the converter 127 can include a networkinterface connector (NIC), MAC address, and the like. One or moreconverters 127 can optionally be built into the adaptor 129. A residence110 (or even a set of multiple residences 110, in one embodiment) onlyrequires a single adaptor 129, although use of additional adaptors 129for fault tolerance (or bandwidth enhancement) purposes arecontemplated.

Residence 110 is used generically throughout this disclosure to refer toa site in which adapter 129 is positioned. In one embodiment, aresidence 110 can refer to a unique and independent household, whichfunctions as a domicile for a family of one or more people. Differentresidences 110 are independent of other residences 110. Despite thisindependence, hundreds to thousands of residences 110 can be served by asingle multi-access gateway 130. This situation is to be contrasted withbusiness or entity owned properties, which are often served by a companydetermined infrastructure. The telecommunication services 132 providedto the residences 110 can fall under one or more federal statutes (e.g.,Telecommunications Act of 1996). Embodiments of the disclosure are meantto include definitions for residential telecommunication serviceprovided within any federal or state statute for regulatory purposes.

Each device 150 can be communicatively linked to the gateway 130 throughIP connection 156, which can be a private channel between device 150 andgateway 130, can be a secure IPv6 connection, or can be an IPv4connection that implements IPSec standards. The connection 156 can haveone endpoint (NIC 152) at device 150 and the other (endpoint 164) atgateway 130. In one embodiment, the connection 156 can comply with IPSecstandards. Gateway 130 can use routing component 162 to routecommunications between device 150 and IP resources 170, Plain oldtelephone service (POTS) resources 172, and/or other communicationresource 174. The IP resource 170 can be a resource of a public 140 orprivate 142 IP network. POTS resource 172 can be a resource of POTSnetwork 144. A communication between gateway 130 and a POTS resource 172can be circuit-based.

Communication resource 174 can be a resource of other network 146. Theother network 146 can include any type of signaling network, which canbe directed to IP device 120 within an IP based communication. Otherservices 137 can include services specifically designed to permit accessto other resources 174, which a sufficient quantity of residences 110desire to justify expenditures of providing these resources 174 as aservice 137. Additionally, services 132 implemented at the gateway 130can be linked to the middle-mile of the communication network, asopposed to the last mile. Thus, these services 132 can havesubstantially greater bandwidth available to them compared to thosewhich travel to the more bandwidth constrained devices 120-126 over thelast mile of the communication network.

This emphasizes that economies of scale achieved through use of themulti-access gateway 130 can open new markets for communication services132, enriching service providers, residences (110), and carriers 112alike. Some of the services 132 besides the other services 137contemplated in system 100 include emergency (e.g., 911) services 134,home control services 135, residential administration services 136, anddata services 133. The emergency services 134 can represent emergencyservices, which can be initiated from any of the IP devices 120-126 oreven from the adaptor 129, itself. Previously configured messages (insettings 139) can be triggered as part of emergency services 134, as canautomatically providing and confirming address information, and thelike. The emergency services 134 can be triggered manually by a useraction and/or automatically by in-home conditions determined home basedsensors. These home based sensors can be ones utilized by one or morehome control services 135.

Services 132 can interoperate with each other, and can optionally shareand utilize a common set of residential information 139 maintained in adata store 138 accessible by the gateway 130. In one embodiment,particular datum elements (139) of data store 138 can be protected orkept confidential per residence 110 configurable settings (viaadministration services 136) to ensure residential information isconfidentially, securely, and appropriately maintained. Services 132include carrier 112 provided services as well as third-party services.In one embodiment, the carrier 112 may be able to offer residents (110)favorable rates on third party services 132, largely to economies ofscales and resulting efficiencies achievable by use of the multi-accessgateway 130 for implementing residential 110 routing functions.

Diagram 118 shows device 150 can be connected through adaptor 129,through gateway 130, through an optional remote router 180, to resource182 (which can be any of resources 170-174). Looking at a TCP/IP stack116 stack for the connections of diagram 118, it can be seen that thedevice 150 and the resource 182 can each connect through the application182, transport 184, network (e.g., internet) 185, and link 186 layers.The adaptor 129 communicates at the link 186 layer (or the physical anddata Link layers using the OSI model). The gateway 130 and the optionalrouter 180 communicate at the link 186 and network 185 layers. TheTCP/IP stack 116 layers are shown for convenience and equivalent layersof other communication stack models are to be considered within scope ofthe disclosure.

Diagram 118 shows that the data link layer of the TCP/IP stack 116 isthe lowest defined layer, which by design is hardware independent. Thus,TCP/IP can be implemented on top of virtually any hardware networkingtechnology in existence. Consequently, any of a variety of differentphysical network architectures 190, 192, 194, 196 (e.g., Ethernet, TokenRing, hub, repeater) can be implemented to connect the hardwarecomponents of device 150, adaptor 129, gateway 130, router 180, andresource 182. The processes of transmitting and receiving packets on agiven link (link layer 186) is able to be controlled by software devicedrivers for network cards (eg., NIC 152), by firmware, or by specializedchipsets. Any of these can perform the data link functions, such asadding and preparing frames header, data, and footers and transmittingthese frames over a physical medium.

The network layer 185 solves the problem of sending packets across oneor more networks. Internetworking requires sending data from the sourcenetwork to the destination network, which is the process of routing. Asnoted gateway 130 is component connected through adapter 129 to device120-126, which performs the routing function (e.g., routing 162), whichis why diagram 118 shows network layer 185 communications for gateway130 and not for adaptor 129.

In the event that two devices 120-126, which may or may not reside inthe same residence 110, are communicating with each other via gateway130, the optional router 180 shown in diagram 118 can be replaced withadaptor 129. When communicating devices 150 are in a single residence110, a single adapter 129 can be used. When devices 120-126 in differentresidences 110 communicate, then a second adaptor 129 can be utilized.Either way, both adaptors 129 will only communicate at the link layerand all routing (e.g., routing component 162) will be performed by thegateway 130. Optimizations can be optionally implemented to expeditecommunications.

Alternatively (and as shown in diagram 118), an in-residence device120-126 connected to gateway 130 can connect to a network (e.g., network114) resource 182 (e.g., resource 170-174). This resource 182 can beconnected to a router 180, which may be a carrier-grade router, abusiness-grade router, or even a home router. Either way, thecommunication from device 150 will be routed to resource 182, which canrespond back (using TCP/IP standards, for example), by traversing thenetwork connection pathway shown in diagram 118 in reverse.

The network 190 between device 150 and adaptor 129 is an in-residencenetwork, which can utilize wireless or wireline communication pathways,as is network 196. Wiring of the network 190 can be adapted for specifichome devices 150, such as CPE phones, televisions, security cameras,radios, photo-frames, MP3 players, game consoles, and the like.

The specific wireless or wireline pathways connecting a device 150 tothe adaptor 129 can conform to any of a variety of communicationstandard, including but not limited to BLUETOOTH, WIRELESS USB, Wi-Fi(any of the 802.1x family of protocols), power line communications(e.g., HOMEPLUG), ZIGBEE (and other mesh network communicationtechnologies), Z-WAVE, POTS phone lines (i.e., over Cat 3 wires),Ethernet (i.e., over Cat 5 or 6 wires), USB, FIREWIRE, ESATA, and thelike. Traditionally, the devices 150 in residence 110 and thecommunication lines and protocols used by them fall into the category ofCPE and CPE-based wiring. Typical CPE components, such as device 150,can conform to home or business class equipment standards.

Network 192 is a network connecting a residence 110 to a carrier 112.This type of network can be referred to as a last mile (mobile mile orwireless local look in the case of wireless telephony), a local loop, ora subscriber line. Thus, network 192 connects a residence to an edge ofa carrier's 112 network. Network 192 can be an Integrated ServiceDigital Network (ISDN30) connection delivered through copper of fibrecable. Additionally, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX), Broadband over power line (BPL), and other such technologiescan be used for providing the last mile services of network 192.Communications over network 190 and/or network 192 may be conductedwithin discrete channels, which have not been multiplexed with otherchannels at a content level (e.g., simple signal processing techniquescan extract each discrete channel, and can extract a single discretechannel without having to extract others.).

Network 194 can represent the middle-mile connecting the carrier's corenetwork (networks 114) to the local network plant (the beginning of thelast mile, where the local loop begins). Network 194 can include thebackhaul network. Communications over network 194 will typically bemultiplexed at a content level with other communications (e.g., complexsignal processing techniques may be need to extract a single channel,which requires multiple channels be de-muxed before a single desired onecan be extracted). Network 194 (as shown) also includes the backbonenetwork (e.g., network 114), which ultimately connects to a router 180(which is positioned within a local loop). Network 196 can be the localnetwork between the router 180 and resource 182. In some embodiments,the resource (e.g., resource 170, 172, 174) linked to device 150 can beimplemented close to the network backbone or close to gateway 130 forimproved performance, such as performance needed for many popularservices 132.

It should be emphasized that system 100 permits the multi-access gateway130 to control communications between devices 120-126 in a residence 110at a configurable level of granularity, which provides substantiallygreater control than available for existing systems. One level ofcontrol can exist on a per channel (e.g., IPv6 Sec channel 156) basis.These per device channels can be selectively throttled (bandwidthlimited), suspended (then reinitiated from the suspended state),disabled, and the like. For example, when an in-residence 110 securityincident or emergency event is detected, non-essential channels can behalted to ensure maximum throughput exists for those devices 120-126involved in handling the security incident/emergency event.Additionally, in one embodiment, procedures can be implemented withinthe multi-access gateway 130 (for security purposes) to change the IPaddresses 154 of each device 120-126 in a predefined timely fashioncontrolled by the multi-access gateway 130 and computerized proceduresbuilt therein.

In one implementation of system 100 that uses IPv6 communications, acertain block of IPv6 addresses can be assigned to each multi-accessgateway 130. A computerized system can then assign the addresses in theblock to different channels of different ports of the multi-accessgateway 130, where the ports are connected to various ones of thedevices 120-126. A database of the gateway 130 can be maintained andupgraded to ensure the ports of the gateway 130 are matched tocorresponding ones of the devices 120-126. As devices 120-126 areremoved, the ports and/or IP addresses used can be returned to theblock, where they can be reassigned by the multi-access gateway 130 tonew/different devices 120-126 in the future. The size of the block ofaddresses assigned to the gateway 130 can be increased whenever gateway130 capacity increases. In one embodiment, procedures can be implementedto change IP addresses associated with ports and devices 120-126 in apredefined, timely fashion for purposes of enhancing security.

In one embodiment, a software implemented push can be implemented forcommunications between the devices 120-126 and the multi-access gateway130. The push can utilize queuing techniques and prioritizationtechniques to ensure the most critical information is conveyed betweenresidence 110 and gateway 130 in a timely fashion. Procedures can beimplemented for manual as well as automated interruptions of pushes asrequired. For example, a push can be interrupted for a substantialamount of time upon identification of an appropriate emergency event.Additionally, functionality to restart (resume), reinitiate, or continuenormal operations can be implemented. For example, a restart of a pushcan be controlled automatically following resolution of an emergencycondition.

The various IP devices 120-126 can have active and idle states. In oneembodiment, an indicator (audible/visible) can be provided on thedevices 120-126 to display to a user a state of the IP device 120-126(active/inactive), a connection state (active, suspended, inactive), astatus of messages (delivered, queued, disabled), and the like. In oneembodiment, the device 120-126 specific display data can be accessedfrom a display of the adapter 129, or via a user interface that isprovided as part of the residential administration services 136. A levelof details available through a device status display can vary fromdevice to device. Thus, some devices 120-126 can include a basic state(connected, idle, active, inactive), while others will include morerobust indicators. Devices 120-126 can also include specialcontrols/indications for initiating and/or receiving notice of emergencysituations.

The devices 120-126 and administration thereof (via residentialadministration services 136) can be tailored for specific users of theresidence 110. For example, every member of a family (living inresidence 110) can have their own password (and optional user id) foraccessing the administration services 136 and associated userinterfaces. Different users can have different user privilege levels, sothat a parent can override settings established by a child, for example.User privileges can be used to permit online changing of configuration(residential settings 139) for specific operations, devices 120-126, formaintaining privacy of data (conveyed during communications or withinmetadata about communications), and the like.

In other words, database 138 can be controlled by multiple differentusers (e.g., parents in one example) of a residence 110. The control ofresidential settings 139 can be performed locally (using in-residence110 controls) or remotely. A procedure can be implemented for themulti-access gateway 130 for giving an audible/visible “busy” indicationto other authorized database controllers (e.g., users). That is,residential settings 139 can be locked during editing (or checked in andout) to prevent contention issues. The busy or in-use signal can providean administrator with feedback that another is changing residentialsettings 139. In one embodiment, a super user (e.g., main administrator)can request messages be sent to him/her when any residential settings139 are changed (i.e., the administrator can receive and email messagewhenever setting 139 changes occur). Access to database 138 information,such as residential settings 139 can be interrupted or prevented uponidentification of an emergency or high priority event. A priority of anevent can be determined by a separate database (from database 138) inone embodiment. Also, device 120-126 usage can be halted whenresidential settings 139 are being changed, which may require the device120-126 be restarted, reconnected, or otherwise reset before changesreflected in settings 139 can be implemented.

Previously non-available emergency procedures can be implemented forsystem 100. For example, in one embodiment, the adapter 129 can beequipped with an auto dialer for making an emergency call. Uponreceiving an indication of an emergency (from a user or connected device120-126), the adapter 129 can get a dial tone from the gateway 130 (orfrom an alternative line connected to adapter 129 and reserved foremergencies) and can dial out 911 or other number to provide emergencyservices.

In one embodiment, system 100 can pre-store an address for residence 110(within adaptor 129, device 120-126, and/or data store 138) as well asaudio, text, and video information. A procedure associated with theemergency services 134 can be implemented to feed this storedinformation during a 911 call or other emergency service 134invocations. In one embodiment, when devices 120-126 and/or adapter 129include emergency service information (which is able to be manually orautomatically fed responsive to an emergency call), an indication ofsuccess or a lack of success for uploading the emergency information canbe presented upon the appropriate device 120-126 and/or adapter 129.

In one embodiment, a procedure and/or actuator to initiate (e.g., dialout) 911 or other emergency calls can be placed in any of the homedevices 120-126. These procedures can include overriding existing usagesof the device 120-126 to display emergency information and/or tointeract with a user concerning an emergency situation. For example, anIP device 121 that is a television can be overridden so that a user isinformed of an emergency situation and is prompted with a set ofpre-configured responses to initiate via a TV remote control unit. Inone embodiment, a dial-out device (e.g., a phone or other audiotransducer) can be connected to any of the devices 120-126 through anappropriate connection (e.g., an USB port, for example). In such anembodiment, the multi-access gateway 130 can provide a dial tone to theappropriate connected home device for dialing out 911, upon indicationof an emergency event. For example, an internal intercom system can beprovided a dial tone and used to dial out during an emergency event inone embodiment.

Further, master and slave devices 120-126 can be defined per residence110 for emergency services 124 to avoid multiple emergency call outsfrom within the same household or residence 110. Alternatively, anindicator presented on the devices 120-126 that indicates an emergencyservice has been initiated can also help avoid excessive and duplicativecall-outs during an emergency situation.

In one embodiment, an automated report about one or more emergencyevents can be generated and provided to an account Web page. This reportand/or information can be shared by all household users. Depending onthe severity and type of emergency event, a text message or email canalso be sent to a master controller's (super user) mobile phone or otherdesignated receiving devices. Emergency events can be defined as part ofthe residential settings 139 and/or can be defined by the gateway 130and its administrators. In one embodiment, an additional Web site can beused to present residence 110 specific information to responders for anemergency event. The residence information 110 can be gathered fromin-residence 110 sensors, data feeds, and the like and provided toresponders in real-time or near real time.

System 100 can provide any number of different customizable proceduresfor uploading and otherwise storing emergency location information intoone or more of the devices 120-126 on the premises (residence 110).Standard formats can be used for different emergency messages, whichinclude audio content, text, audio, and other media. Versions of thisemergency information can be stored on the gateway 130. Upon receivingan indication of an emergency event, the multi-access gateway 130 cantake appropriate actions. For example, the gateway 130 can send aspecific set of pre-stored messages with location information of thecalling party to an emergency responder. The data store 138 containingcustomer information (including settings 139) (e.g., name, address,etc.) that is indexed against household connection port can be used. Inone embodiment, when a port to a residence 110 device is unexpectedsevered, as detected by gateway 130, and emergency action can beautomatically initiated by gateway 130.

FIG. 2 provides additional views and diagrams for embodiments of system100. Diagram 202 shows a residence 110 view, where the residence 110includes multiple devices 120-124 positioned in different rooms. Eachdevice 120-124 can be communicatively linked to the residence's adaptor129, via wireless or wireline pathways (i.e., is connected via network190). In one embodiment, only one adaptor 129 is needed to support aresidence 110 regardless of the number of devices 120-124 or rooms ofthe residence 110.

The adapter 129 can be intended for residence access (physically) andplaced inside the residence 110, in one embodiment of the disclosure. Inanother, the adapter 129 can be placed on the exterior of the residence110, and physical access may be restricted to carrier personnel. Forexample, the exterior positioned adapter 129 can be placed inside alocked box, which only agents of the carrier 112 possess keys to (i.e.,residents may lack direct access to the locked box).

The adapter 129 can be linked to the multi-access gateway 130 vianetwork 192. Services 132 can be provide through the gateway 130 as canaccess to a data store 138, which includes residential settings 139. Inone embodiment, one or more communication pathways 203 can exist fromadapter 129 to network 114, such as POTS network 144, which do not passthrough the gateway 130. Communication pathway 203 can be used foremergency services 134 and/or can be utilized as a communicationfailsafe or fall back. Communication pathway 203 may be provided by adifferent carrier 112, than that which provides gateway 130.Communication pathway 203 may permit circuit based or packet switchedcommunications. Further, pathway 203 can use a wireline or wirelessmedium for communicating data.

Diagram 206 shows that multiple residences 110 are connected via asingle network 192 to the gateway 130. More than one distinct last milenetwork linked to a different set of residences 110 can be connected tothe same gateway 130, as expressed by the last mile network 208 alsobeing connected to gateway 130. Further, one or more residences 110 mayconnect to the gateway 130 via more than one network. For example,network 207 can be an additional last mile network distinct from network192, which connects one or more residences 110 to the gateway 130. Useof multiple networks (i.e., a WiMAX network and a copper network, forexample) can provide a level of redundancy, which may be useful inensuring residences 110 experience a desired threshold of uptime. It isalso a means of increasing bandwidth to one or more residences, as wellas a means for leveraging different fixed assets available to a carrier112. In one embodiment, an adapter 129 can support multiple differentprotocols (wireline and wireless) connecting a residence 110 to thegateway 130. A residence 110 receiving services 132 may not even beaware (or care) which of a set of one or more physical networks andlink-layer 186 protocols are being used for communications between thegateway 130 and adapter 129.

Diagram 210 shows a residential network 212, which includes a set ofresidences 110 served (receiving routing 162 functionality from) by acommon gateway 130. Since the same gateway 130 controls the routing ofcommunications, it can permit (assuming permissions are granted byresidences as recorded in residential settings 139) a device 150positioned in one residence (e.g., residence 110A) to communicate with adevice 150 in another residence (e.g., residence 110B). Communicationscan be conducted securely, such as in compliance with IPSec 156standards. Thus, different family members (or friends) in the sameneighborhood (or within the same residential network 212) can utilizeeach other's devices 150, in accordance with permissions established bythe residential settings 139. Thus, a person using a computer inresidence 110A can print a document to a printer located in residence110B.

The capability of sharing access to network attached devices 120-126over a residential network 212 can be considered a service 132 (e.g.,other service 137) provided by the carrier 112. Notably, communicationsbetween different residences 110A and 110B in the same residentialnetwork 212 can be substantially equivalent (from a technologyviewpoint) as permitting communications between two devices 150 in thesame residence 110. The routing in both cases, is controlled by gateway130 and is between devices 150 having unique IPv6 Addresses 154. Anydesired level of access control and restrictions to devices 150 managedby gateway 130 can be implemented.

Diagram 214 shows that a person 215 using a mobile device can move abouta residential network 212 without losing connectivity. That is, internetlevel 185 settings need not change, since the same gateway 130 is beingused by the device 150 (having a stable IP address) regardless of wherein the residential network 212 a person 215 is located. It should benoted, that physical level and link level 186 handoffs may be requiredwithin network 212, as the person 215 moves about. That is, differentadapters 129 positioned within different residences 110 may be used,such as when the communication is Wi-Fi (802.11) based and the adapters129 include a Wi-Fi transceiver. Security is not compromised even thoughdifferent adapters 129 are used, as communications between person 215and gateway 130 can be secured by IPSec 156. In one embodiment,geofences can be implemented to limit a person's 215 communicationcapability within residential network 212. Similarly, an ability to roamwithin a residential network 212 can be provided as an optional service132 (e.g., other service 137) available to subscribers.

Diagram 216 illustrates that different residential networks 212A, 212B,212C can exist in different geospatial positions. Each of theresidential networks 212A, 212B, 212C can be managed by a networkspecific gateway 130. These gateways 130 can be interconnected at lowlevels, using open or proprietary technologies and communicationpathways. Interconnecting these residential networks 212A, 212B, 212Cpermits a creation of a virtual residential network, which includes ageographical region covered by an aggregate of multiple residentialnetworks 212A, 212B, 212C. Any services 132 implemented for or availableto a residential network 212, can be implemented for or made availableto a virtual residential network. Thus, device sharing shown in diagram210 and roaming shown in diagram 214 can be implemented within a virtualresidential area, as shown by diagram 216. Virtual residential networkscan be implemented by configuring gateway 130 software/firmware withoutnegatively impacting other components of a telecommunications network100. In one embodiment, communications between gateways 130 can occur atthe physical/link 186 layer.

Diagram 220 shows IP device 150, gateway 130, and a computing system ofa service provider 222, each connected to a service infrastructure 250.The infrastructure 250 supports the providing of services. In oneembodiment, infrastructure 250 can conform to an IP Multimedia subsystem(IMS) framework for delivering IP multimedia services in compliance witharchitectural specifics defined by the 3rd Generation PartnershipProject (3GPP). As such, infrastructure 250 can have a horizontalcontrol layer that isolates the access network from the service layer.Thus, from a logical architecture perspective, services 132 compliantwith an IMS framework (one embodiment of infrastructure 250) need nothave their own control functions, as the control layer is a commonhorizontal layer. In another embodiment, the service infrastructure 250can be a 3GPP Generic Access Network (GAN), which provides system 100with an ability to use the Internet to provide the “last mile”connection for a telephony device.

In one embodiment, the infrastructure 250 can conform to standards of a(SOA) for providing services, such as Web services. In such anembodiment, the SOA infrastructure 250 provides a loosely-integratedsuite of services 132 that can be used within multiple business domains.SOA separates functions into distinct units (e.g., services 132), whichdevelopers make accessible over a network in order to allow users tocombine and reuse them in the production of applications. These servicesand their corresponding consumers communicate with each other by passingdata in a well-defined, shared format, or by coordinating an activitybetween two or more services. In an SOA embodiment, a wide range oftechnologies can be used in the infrastructure 250 including, but notlimited to, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Remote procedure call(RPC), Representational State Transfer (REST), Distributed ComponentObject Model (DCOM), The Common Object Request Broker Architecture(CORBA), Data Distribution Service for Real-time Systems (DDS), Webservices, Windows Communication Foundation (or WCF), and/or combinationsand derivatives thereof.

In one embodiment, the infrastructure 250 can be an Intelligent Network(IN) infrastructure. In an IN embodiment, services can execute at theservice layer, which is distinct from the switching layer of the corenetwork. Services implemented in an IN framework can conform to theSignaling System 7 (SS7) protocol. An IN infrastructure (an embodimentof infrastructure 250) as used herein includes IN derivatives andextensions, such as an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), CustomisedApplications for Mobile networks Enhanced Logic (CAMEL), Next GenerationIntelligent Network (NGIN), and the like.

Regardless of specifics, the service infrastructure 250 can includenumerous components, such as a service bus 252, usage meters 253,performance monitors 254, performance adjusters 255, and the like, whichfacilitate the use, monitoring, and monetization of services 132.Further, in one embodiment, the service infrastructure 250 can supportand enforce service level agreements (SLA) 223 for services 132. EachSLA 223 can be a service contract, where a level of service 132 isformally defined. Infrastructure 250 can be an adaptive one, whichensures SLA 223 contracts are upheld by providing priority handling ofservices 132. SLA 223 may specify the levels of availability,serviceability, performance, operation, or other attributes of theservice, such as billing.

As noted from the various embodiments of infrastructure 250, services132 can take many different forms. They can include IN services, SOAservices, IMS services, Web services, and the like. Further, services132 can be provided by a carrier 112 and/or by an independent serviceprovider 222. Services 132 can be implemented at the gateway 130, whichmay involve use of plug-ins 242 and communications across APIs 244.Thus, services 132 can establish, modify, interoperate with, and extendapplications 240 running on gateway 130.

Services 132 can also be designed for specific IP devices 150, and cantherefore establish, modify, interoperate with, and extend client-sideapplications 230. Device 150 applications can also use plug-ins 232,APIs 234, and the like. Further, services 132 can execute in networkattached servers operating independently of and remote from device 150and/or gateway 130.

The various computing devices 121-126, resource 170-174, gateway 130,service provider 220 devices, network components, and the like caninclude hardware 270 and computer program products 280, as shown bydevice 260. Device 260 can represent general purpose machines (e.g.,running a general purpose operating system (OS) 283 having functionalitydetermined largely by applications 284 and modules 285 running on top ofthe OS 283) as well as special purposed machines (e.g., having customhardware, electronic circuits, firmware, and software tailored for aspecialized purpose, which may be designed to prevent significantpost-sale modifications). The computing devices 260 can includedistributed devices formed from a plurality of discrete machines, whichmay be geographically separated from one another, yet which function asa single device. A distributed device can have optionally implementfault-tolerance, fail-over, and load balancing technologies.Additionally, the computing device 260 can include a virtual device(created using virtualization technologies), which emulates a physicaldevice within a layer of abstraction functioning above a hardware layer.As such, multiple virtual devices can be formed from a single physicaldevice (or from a set of M physical devices to N virtual devices).

The hardware 270 can include a processor 272, non-volatile memory 273,volatile memory 274, network transceiver 275, input/output (I/O)peripherals 276, and/or the like. The components 272-276 can beconnected to each other via bus 277.

Computer program products 280 can include software, firmware, andcombinations thereof. The computer program products 280 can be stored ina tangible storage medium (e.g., memory 273, 274) and can be executed onthe hardware 270 (e.g., instructions of the products 280 can executewithin the processor 272). The computer program products 280 can includeboot firmware 282, an operating system 283, a set of applications 284,zero or more modules 285, an optional user interface 286, andcombinations thereof. In some device 260 embodiments, functionality ofthe firmware 282, operating system 283, applications 284, and/or module285 can be joined into a single unit, which may be implemented inhardware or firmware.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating emergency (e.g., 911) services 134provided in accordance with an embodiment the disclosure. Specifically,any of the IP devices 150 (including devices 126 connecting to anadapter 129 via a converter 127) can permit a user to contact emergencyresponse agencies 314. The emergency services 134 include 911 services,equivalent (or even the same as) dialing “911” from a POTS connectedtelephone. In the disclosure, however, all IP devices 150 can be enabledfor the emergency services 134. These services 134 can be dependent uponthe adapter 129 can be conveyed through the multi-access gateway 130,where configured settings 139 can be accessed and applied.

The devices 312 of responders can include telephony devices, computers,and any other configured resource 170-174, designed to inform emergencyresponse agencies 314 of a situation. The emergency response agencies314 can include public agencies (police 316, fire 317, hospital 318agencies, etc.) as well as private ones (e.g., security company, a homemaintenance service, notify one or more proximate neighbor(s), inform aremotely located home-owner, etc.). Different agencies 314 can benotified of different emergency situations, and multiple differentagencies 314 can be informed of a single emergency event. Designation ofthe agencies 314 and emergency events can be configured by an authorizedresident, such as through user interface 330, in one embodiment of thedisclosure.

Emergency events can be manually triggered by a device 150 user and/orcan be automatically triggered by a detected or sensed situation (suchas a smoke detector or security alarm within a residence 110—each ofwhich can be in-residence devices 150—being activated). In oneembodiment, some automatically triggered emergency actions canconcurrently initiate a designated resident to be notified. In oneembodiment, this notification can occur a fixed period before emergencyservice agencies 314 are contacted so that the designated resident canexplicitly authorize or refute an emergency service action. In such asituation, if a designated resident fails to respond within a designedtime period, the emergency response action can be automaticallyinitiated.

In one embodiment, an emergency response agency 314 can be automaticallyprovided with in-residence information (e.g., a camera feed, a status ofin-residence sensors, etc.) whenever an emergency response communicationis sent to that agency 314. A previously established address 364 of theresidence 110 from which the emergency service 134 communication wasplaced can be part of provided in-residence information. This address364 can be based on the adapter 129 location, the device 150 location(e.g., especially for GPS equipped devices), or a combination thereof.Providing the in-residence information can minimize an amount of timepotentially distressed residents spend on an emergency responsecommunication and can substantially aid responders 314 in takingappropriate and timely actions, which represents a win-win situation forboth residents and responders.

In one embodiment, indicated by diagram 310, the in-residence 110 device150 can connect through the adapter 129 over network 192 to gateway 130.Gateway 130 can enable the emergency services 134, which provides aconnection to emergency response agency 314 devices 312.

In one embodiment, indicated by diagram 320, the adapter 129 can belinked to multiple networks 192, 144; one (192) connected to the gateway130; the other (144) connecting directly to an emergency response agency314 device 312. This permits emergency response calls to be made,directly from the adapter 129, even when connectively to network 192 iscompromised. This arrangement (of diagram 320) can also negatetraditional location problems with making 911 calls from IP devices 150,as the alternate communication 203 can be via a traditional mechanism,such as a land telephony line. This is not an imposed limitation ofcommunication 203, which can include a wireless telephony service(perhaps conducted via an in-residence device 150, like a cell phone,liked to adapter 129), and other alternative communication lines. Whenan alternative communication line 203 is used, in-residence informationcan still be provided by the gateway 130 to one or more agencies 314,such as over a public 142 or private 140 IP network. In one embodiment,911 calls can be placed directly from the adapter 129 or from any IPdevice 150 connected to the adapter 129, either situation resulting inline 203 being used during the emergency service communication.

As previously noted, emergency service 134 can be highly configurable bya designated resident having administrative privileges. Residencespecific settings 139 can be stored in a data store 138 accessible bythe multi-access gateway 130. In one embodiment, a Web server 304 canprovide a Web page 332 or other user interface 330, which an authorizeduser can utilize to modify the residential settings 139. For example,the interface 330 can permit a user to designate a set of emergencyresponse agencies 350 (e.g., agencies 314), as well as a set ofconditions 352 under which specific response agencies 314 will becontacted. Further, actions 354 to be taken in response to an emergencysituation satisfying the conditions 352 can be customized via interface330. Additionally, one or more customized messages 340, which caninclude audio 342, text 344, or other content can be established, whichare to be automatically conveyed upon an occurrence of a relatedemergency situation.

For example, in a health related emergency 338, the text 344 can includeto a responder 318 medical facts about residents, such as blood type,health conditions, drug allergies, current prescription medications,etc. In another example, in a police situation 334, the actions 354 canauthorize police 316 to receive presence information (such as userlocation as determined by GPS components of a mobile device, orscheduled locations from calendaring programs) related to the residentsof the residence 110, which would be otherwise unavailable to the police316. In another example, in a fire situation 336, the message 340 canselectively provide response personnel 317 with residence 110 layouts,access codes, and other such information.

Information established via interface 330 can be stored in appropriatetables 360, 370. In one embodiment, some of the information in tables360, 370 can be established by a carrier 112 or a provider 220 of anemergency service, and may not be modifiable by a resident.

As indicated in table 360, physical locations 364 of adaptors 362 can bemaintained, which provides a reliable means for locating where anemergency response service 134 was initiated. In one embodiment, thisinformation can be supplemented by GPS information of in-residencedevices 150 (where adapter 129 can optionally include a GPS component),and may be stored in a memory of adapter 129 and/or in data store 138.

As indicated in table 370, residence 372 specific information can bemaintained. For each residence 372 a set of conditions 374, actions 376,messages 378, and the like can be maintained, which are utilized when anemergency service 134 is activated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating home control services 135 provided inaccordance with an embodiment the disclosure. The home services 135 areprovided to the residences 110 over network 192, which is connected toadapter 129 and gateway 130. In-residence devices 150 can includesensors, actuators, and the like, which monitor and control in-residence110 devices. For example, electric outlets, heating/cooling devices,lights, cameras, and the like can all be controlled by the home controlservices 135. A device 416 (which can be an in-residence device 150 ornot) can include a user interface 430 through which settings 139 of homecontrol services 135 can be viewed and edited. In one embodiment, anumber of servers 412 connected to gateway 130 via network 114 canprovide one or more services 414. These services 414 can enhance basichome control services 135, and/or can be third party home controlservices (135), which are made available to residents via gateway 130.

In one embodiment, the user interface 430 for services 135 can beprovided within a Web browser of a client 416 device, where theinterface 430 includes a Web page 432 served by a Web server 404. Thisserver 404 can access residence 110 specific settings 139 and can evenpermit a designated resident to modify the settings 139. A home control432 interface can aggregate different services 414 provided by differentproviders, each of which can include a link 434 to the relevant content.For example, a device control 440 section can permit a user to viewin-residence devices 150 by room 442. Settings per device 150 can thenbe adjusted via interface controls 444.

Various specialized sections can exist within the interface 430 forspecific types of in-residence devices. For example, a video section 450can permit viewing of video captured by in-residence 110 cameras (eachof which can be an IP device 150 or connected to one). Thus, a user canview 454 any room 452 of a residence 110 via a browser, and use controls456 to control the in-residence 110 devices 150. A level of control andthe number of home control services 135 for each residence 110 isarbitrary and can be tailored to suit market and residence needs.

The residential settings 139 for home control services 135 can includeany of a variety of data elements, a few of which are expressed bytables 460 and 470. Table 460 shows a set of in-residence devices 462and their current settings 464. Table 470 shows a set of differentresidences 472, conditions 474 related to home control devices that areenabled, and actions 476 to be taken upon the satisfaction of theseconditions 474.

It should be appreciated that the configurations, interfaces, andservices 134, 135 expressed in FIGS. 3 and 4 are presented to illustrateconcepts expressed herein and are not to be construed as a limitation onthe scope of the disclosure.

In one embodiment, the residential administration services 136 canprovide a mechanism for residents, carrier 112 administrators, serviceproviders 220, and other authorized persons to modify residence specificsettings 139 and other details of the services 132. As such, userinterfaces 330, 430 represent two contemplated interfaces that areprovided as part of the residential administration services 136. In oneembodiment, services 136 permit a resident to subscribe to new services,to modify behavior of existing services, and/or to cancel servicesreceived. These services can include Web services, IMS services, and/orIN services provided by the carrier 112 and by any of a variety of thirdparty providers 220.

The data services 133 can take advantage of the preferred positioning ofthe gateway 130 compared to the IP devices 150 relative to acommunication backbone. As such, a data storage space positioned at thegateway 130, or within a network 114 close to the communication backboneand having significant bandwidth (relative to network 129) can assist inreducing traffic over the last-mile of the communication backbone. Thiscan be advantageous to the carrier 112, who receives efficiencies byminimizing last-mile traffic and the residents, who experience increasedperformance, a reduction of latencies, and the like. Data services 133can be provided by carrier 112 and by service providers 220 for a fee.Data services 133 can include AMAZON'S S3 service, data backup services,cloud-based storage drives, and the like. Customizable cloud-basedapplication services (not shown) can also be integrated with the dataservices 133 in one contemplated embodiment.

Other services 137 can be designed to take advantage of the positioningof the multi-access gateway 130 and the quantity of residences 110 anddevices 150 accessible via the gateway 130. There is virtually no limiton the types and configuration of these services, which represent anemerging new market.

In one illustration, the other services 137 can include a babymonitoring service. This assumes a microphone and/or camera ispositioned within a room of a residence 110 proximate to a baby. Thesedevices (camera/microphone) can be connected directly to the gateway130, as can output devices, such as a television, a computer, a speaker,cell phone, etc. Sound/video from the devices in the baby's room can bedirected to any of the output devices, as determined by the routingfunctionality 162 of the gateway 130. The output devices need not be inthe same physical location as the residence 110. For example, a mothervisiting a neighbor can receive baby monitoring output via a mobilephone, or even through an IP device located in the neighbor's home(assuming it is also linked to gateway 130). Additionally, programmaticservices, which trigger alerts when a baby is crying, leaving a room,falling from a crib, etc. can be implemented by service providers 220 toenhance a basic baby monitoring service (other service 137). As can beseen, any type of service 137 can be implemented, which takes advantageof multiple residences 110 and devices 150 being linked to themulti-access gateway 130.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing telecommunicationservices, the method comprising: communicatively linking a plurality ofdifferent residences to a communication backbone via a multi-accessgateway, wherein each residence comprises an adapter through which aplurality of IP devices directly connect to the multi-access gateway viaIPSec compliant communication channels, wherein the multi-access gatewayperforms TCP/IP network level routing for the IP devices; themulti-access gateway assigning, to each of the IP devices in theplurality of different residences, an IP address that is unique amongall of the IP devices; the multi-access gateway connecting each of theIP devices to remotely located resources, which comprise remotelylocated IP resources, which communicate to the IP devices via IPaddresses maintained by the multi-access gateway; and providingtelecommunication services to the IP devices in the residences, whereinthe multi-access gateway controls specifics of the telecommunicationservices, wherein said telecommunication services comprise home controlservices, wherein any of the telecommunication services can beinitiated, modified, or terminated by a carrier maintaining themulti-access gateway on a per residence basis for any of the differentresidences; and providing residential administrative services throughthe multi-access gateway, the residential administrative servicesincluding providing, for at least some of the plurality of IP devices,per-device-channel control over communications over the IP devices,wherein the residential administrative services further comprisetracking an activity state and a connection state of each of the atleast some of the plurality of IP devices.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: storing customizable residence specific settings foreach of the residences in a data store accessible by computing equipmentable to control residence specific behavior of the multi-access gateway,wherein said customizable residence specific settings determine detailsof the telecommunication services as provided to specific ones of theresidences; and the carrier providing a user interface accessible byclient-side browsers, wherein said user interface permit authorizedusers residing in the residences to modify at least a portion of thecustomizable residence specific settings for one of the residences inwhich the authorized user resides.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid telecommunication services include are configured to utilize INservices, IMS services, and Web services, each configured on aper-residence basis and controlled and implemented through themulti-access gateway.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least aportion of the IN services, IMS services, and Web services are providedby third parties configured by subscribers of the telecommunicationservices users in the residences through use of the residentialadministration services.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the highestTCP/IP level communication performed by the adapter is link levelcommunications.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion ofthe adapters comprise a wireless transceiver for personal area networkcommunications, and wherein at least a portion of the IP devicescomprise wireless IP devices having wireless transceivers able towirelessly communicate with the wireless transceivers of the adapters,said method further comprising: permitting each of the wireless IPdevices receiving telecommunication services through the multi-accessgateway to roam a wireless coverage area formed by the plurality ofadapters having wireless transceivers, wherein one of thetelecommunication services provided by the carrier selectively enablesand disables an ability to roam the wireless coverage area.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: reserving a block of IPv6addresses at the multi-access gateway for the IP devices; themulti-access gateway utilizing computer programs and a database toassign each of the different IP devices to different ones of the IPv6addresses in the reserved block; associating different ports of themulti-access gateway to different dedicated communication channelsterminating in the IP devices having the assigned IPv6 addresses; andmaintaining and continuously updating the database of IPv6 addressesthat correspond to different ports of the multi-access gateway.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein providing administrative services furthercomprises providing, with the multi-access gateway, multiple differentpasswords and control levels for each of the at least some of the IPdevices to different specific members of a residence.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the different specific members are able to providesuitable ones of the passwords to a Web site to configure and adjustspecific operations of the devices and to maintain privacy of how the IPdevices are used from others.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein each ofthe at least some of the plurality of IP devices comprises a hardwareidentifier, and wherein providing administrative services furthercomprises providing, with the multi-access gateway, hardware-basedsecurity, in which services directed at an IP address of a particular IPdevice are not forwarded to the particular IP device if the servicesdirected at the IP address do not match a hardware identifier of theparticular IP device.
 11. A system for providing telecommunicationservices, the system comprising: a multi-access gateway controlled by acarrier, the multi-access gateway comprising hardware, a processor, aplurality of ports, and at least one tangible storage medium comprisingsoftware or firmware executable by the processor, wherein themulti-access gateway performs TCP/IP network level routing for aplurality of in-residence IP devices, the multi-access gatewayconnecting each of the in-residence IP devices to remotely locatedresources, which comprise remotely located IP resources, whichcommunicate to the in-residence IP devices via IP addresses maintainedby the multi-access gateway; a plurality of adaptors comprisinghardware, each adaptor residing within a different residence, eachadaptor for connecting a subset of the in-residence IP devices that arein the corresponding residence directly to the multi-access gateway overIPSec compliant communication channels, the system providingtelecommunication services to the in-residence IP devices, wherein: themulti-access gateway performs TCP/IP network level routing for the IPdevices; the multi-access gateway assigns, to each of the IP devices inthe plurality of different residences, an IP address that is uniqueamong all of the IP devices; the multi-access gateway connects each ofthe IP devices to remotely located resources, which comprise remotelylocated IP resources, which communicate to the IP devices via IPaddresses maintained by the multi-access gateway; and the multi-accessgateway controls specifics of the telecommunication services, whereinsaid telecommunication services comprise home control services, whereinany of the telecommunication services can be initiated, modified, orterminated by a carrier maintaining the multi-access gateway on a perresidence basis for any of the different residences; and themulti-access gateway provides residential administrative servicesincluding providing, for at least some of the plurality of IP devices,per-device-channel control over communications over the IP devices,wherein the residential administrative services further comprisetracking an activity state and a connection state of each of the atleast some of the plurality of IP devices.
 12. The system of claim 11,further comprising: storing customizable residence specific settings foreach of the residences in a data store accessible by computing equipmentable to control residence specific behavior of the multi-access gateway,wherein said customizable residence specific settings determine detailsof the telecommunication services as provided to specific ones of theresidences; and the carrier providing a user interface accessible byclient-side browsers, wherein said user interface permit authorizedusers residing in the residences to modify at least a portion of thecustomizable residence specific settings for one of the residences inwhich the authorized user resides.
 13. The system of claim 11, whereinsaid telecommunication services include are configured to utilize INservices, IMS services, and Web services, each configured on aper-residence basis and controlled and implemented through themulti-access gateway.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least aportion of the IN services, IMS services, and Web services are providedby third parties configured by subscribers of the telecommunicationservices users in the residences through use of the residentialadministration services.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the highestTCP/IP level communication performed by the adapter is link levelcommunications.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portionof the adapters comprise a wireless transceiver for personal areanetwork communications, and wherein at least a portion of the IP devicescomprise wireless IP devices having wireless transceivers able towirelessly communicate with the wireless transceivers of the adapters,wherein the multi-access gateway further: permits each of the wirelessIP devices receiving telecommunication services through the multi-accessgateway to roam a wireless coverage area formed by the plurality ofadapters having wireless transceivers, wherein one of thetelecommunication services provided by the carrier selectively enablesand disables an ability to roam the wireless coverage area.
 17. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein: the multi-access gateway reserves a blockof IPv6 addresses at for the IP devices; the multi-access gatewayutilizes computer programs and a database to assign each of thedifferent IP devices to different ones of the IPv6 addresses in thereserved block; the multi-access gateway associates different ports ofthe multi-access gateway to different dedicated communication channelsterminating in the IP devices having the assigned IPv6 addresses; andthe multi-access gateway maintains and continuously updates the databaseof IPv6 addresses that correspond to different ports of the multi-accessgateway.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein providing administrativeservices further comprises providing, with the multi-access gateway,multiple different passwords and control levels for each of the at leastsome of the IP devices to different specific members of a residence. 19.The system of claim 18, wherein the different specific members are ableto provide suitable ones of the passwords to a Web site to configure andadjust specific operations of the devices and to maintain privacy of howthe IP devices are used from others.
 20. The system of claim 11, whereineach of the at least some of the plurality of IP devices comprises ahardware identifier, and wherein providing administrative servicesfurther comprises providing, with the multi-access gateway,hardware-based security, in which services directed at an IP address ofa particular IP device are not forwarded to the particular IP device ifthe services directed at the IP address do not match a hardwareidentifier of the particular IP device.